Upbeat computers boost users

May 5/12, 2004

One of the annoying things about computers
is their lack of sympathy.

Researchers from the University of Tampere in Finland have showed
that when computers equipped with speech synthesizers gave users spoken
positive reinforcement during software delays, users smiled more and performed
better at subsequent problem-solving exercises.

The research shows that synthesized emotional messages affect
the cognitive operations of the computer user, and could eventually be
used to make using computers more pleasant and more productive.

The researchers asked volunteers to solve a color puzzle using
a mouse. There were periodic delays in mouse movements, and following
the delays users received emotionally-worded positive messages, emotionally-
worded negative messages, or, as a control, no message at all. Positive
and negative messages, translated from Finish, included "The problem will
soon be happily over," and "This is annoying", respectively.

The researchers are working on a wireless feedback system that
will provide the computer with feedback from users, and at the same time
allow users to move around freely.

Computers could be made to give more positive feedback today;
applications that involve more sophisticated feedback from the user could
be practical in five to ten years, according to the researchers. The work
appeared in the April, 2004 issue of Interacting with Computers.